Funds, Investments, Lithuania, Port, Transport

Replacement of the aerial line with a cable was first discussed two years ago, however, the financing issue has not yet been solved. The government's final decision is currently expected in connection to the port's expansion perspectives, with the fate of the cable to be decided then.

Giedrius Smaguris, director of the Klaipeda port authority's Construction and Utilization Department, told BNS that the authority had turned to the ministries of Energy and Transport, asking for funding of the cable, as stipulated in the port's general plan under preparation by the authority.

The 110 kilo-volt power transmission line, which supplies electricity to the residents of Neringa, interferes with navigation and the port's potential enlargement, furthermore, it is often scraped by ships and needs constant repairs.

The last incident occurred on Monday when a yacht piloted by a citizen of Sweden entered a forbidden zone and hindered the wires, leaving Neringa without electricity for about half an hour.

Charts list the power line as a no-navigation zone. The power cables above the Curonian Spit are at an altitude of 13.9-29.8 meters.